Show and tell: even more.

Posted by Julia on January 23, 2016

The yarn shop is often where new projects begin, but it’s also where problems are solved, techniques are learned, and finished garments are shown off. We’ve had a week of show-and-tell here on the blog, focusing on that last step: standing back and admiring what you’ve made.

Paula knit this “Kids Spirit Cardigan” with two fetching shades of Ewe Ewe Wooly Worsted, a soft and squishy machine-washable merino yarn. The buttons are just right!

Emily got a Schacht Cricket Loom for Christmas, and immediately set to work learning to weave on a rigid heddle loom. This scarf is only her second, and already she’s warping and weaving in two colors with perfect tension. She attests that this houndstooth design is easier than it looks, and I tend to agree; it looks lovely in gray and yellow shades of Plymouth Galway.

Nancy came in with a bag full of show and tell last week, the first of which is this “Alchemy Block Ponchini,” knit in three shades of Alchemy Silken Straw and two shades of Shibui Silk Cloud.

It’s always satisfying to see how colors blend when they’re knit together, in part because it can be hard to predict. You can twist the yarns around one another for a preview and make thoughtful predictions, but there’s nothing like seeing the fabric as it comes off the needles.

Here’s Nancy’s “Starshower,” knit in Malabrigo Sock. It’s nice to see this pattern made up in a variegated yarn, for the changing colors complement the lace and texture pattern just as well as a solid color.

The last finished piece Nancy brought to show us was this “Kusha Kusha Scarf,” knit in Habu Silk Stainless Steel. It was knit on a variety of different needle sizes, sometimes holding a fine lace weight merino along with the Silk Stainless, and when the knitting was done, Nancy lightly felted it in hot, soapy water. The result is a striking organic-looking scarf, and it looks especially marvelous in red.

Many thanks to all the knitters, weavers, crocheters, and other fiber artists who start their projects here at our shop, and thanks also for sharing your work with us as it takes shape!

New, for weavers.

Posted by Julia on December 15, 2015

Over the past week or so, we’ve gotten a couple of new weaving-related items in stock.

First up, we’ve got the latest issue of Handwoven magazine, which focuses on weaving with linen.

Projects include wearables, like the log cabin wrap above, and lots of home goods, like napkins and kitchen towels.

Handwoven always includes projects for a variety of loom types and sizes, including rigid heddle looms, like the Schacht Cricket Looms we keep in stock here at the shop. We got a fresh batch of them recently, knowing that Cricket Looms are topping many a holiday wish-list this year. We also have new scarf kits for rigid heddle looms from DJE Handwovens, which would make excellent gifts for beginner weavers.

Deb Essen’s kits include pre-measured warp and weft yarns from Mountain Colors, and thorough instructions for weaving a simple, colorful scarf on a rigid heddle loom. We also got a few new Swatch Critter kits, to go with the Schacht Zoom Loom. Come by the shop to see what we offer for weavers, crocheters, and knitters alike!

More October show and tell.

Posted by Julia on October 28, 2015

One of our greatest joys as yarn-shopkeepers is seeing what knitters, crocheters, and weavers make with our yarns. I’m always collecting photos of finished projects as they come through the shop for show and tell, letting them build up until I have enough for a blog post. It’s rare that I have enough for two show-and-tell posts in a month, but October has been one such month.

When Sidney felt the first Autumn chill in the air, she saw a need in her wardrobe for a cowl. She came to the shop seeking yarn for Katherine Vaughan’s “Here and There and Everywhere,” and settled on Malabrigo Rios. It was hardly a week before she walked in wearing it, but, as she pointed out, it’s amazing how quickly you can knit when you need something. I love the way the guernsey-style texture pattern looks in this semi-solid yarn.

Here’s my “Kaarina Pullover,” knit in Swans Island All American Sport. I finished it in the middle of the Swans Island Trunk Show, so I hung it up here at the shop with the rest of the All American Sport garments til the show ends on November 1st, 2015.

I’m happy with how it came out, and especially happy with the yarn. It was springy and soft in the hand, and softer still after blocking. I’m looking forward to putting it on soon!

Anne has a newly-finished sweater on the wall here, too; here’s her “Slope,” knit in Shibui Twig. Like many Shibui patterns, “Slope” looks deceptively simple at first glance. Take a closer look at the pattern, and you’ll find smart, carefully-chosen design elements. You might just learn a new cast-on or short-row technique along the way–Anne did!

Here’s Sue’s latest scarf, woven on her Schacht Cricket Loom. For warp, she used Isager Alpaca 1, and for weft, she used Habu Cotton Nerimaki Slub. These two yarns are alike in color, but very different in fiber content and texture, and the resulting fabric is both fascinating and understated.

Thanks to everyone who brings in projects to share with us, whether at the beginning, middle, or end of the process. We love to see what you’re working on, and feel lucky to be surrounded by such creative and talented people. Hope to see you at the shop soon!

Show and tell.

Posted by Julia on October 8, 2015

The show-and-tell photos are piling up again! Time to share some of the projects you’ve so generously shared with us.

If you’ve been to the shop in the past couple of weeks, you’ve probably noticed this eye-catching sampler afghan hanging on the wall. Nancy knit this using two shades of Plymouth Galway, and Barbara Walker’s Learn to Knit Afghan Book, and she’s lent it to us for awhile as she guides her students through afghans of their own.

The Learn to Knit Afghan Book includes patterns for 63 different knit blocks, which can be seamed together in any combination to make an afghan. This looks like a fun way to try new stitch patterns and techniques, and an engaging way to make a blanket.

Sherri is a knitter who recently took up weaving on a Schacht Cricket loom, and above is her first-ever woven scarf. She used Plymouth Galway in a heathered red shade for most of the warp and weft, accented with stripes of Plymouth Gina, a self-striping yarn. We’re looking forward to seeing what comes off her loom next!

Here are two gorgeous pieces made with Isager Alpaca 1, a delicate lace weight yarn. Sue knit the blue shawl on the left and wove the green scarf on the right, as interested as ever in the way a yarn’s behavior can differ from craft to craft. You may recall her weaving projects from my last show and tell post; I love to see what her curiosity and enthusiasm cause her to create!

Robin recently knit this lovely shawl with a self-striping sock yarn whose label had disappeared since leaving the shop and settling deep into her stash. I know from experience how satisfying it is to use yarn that’s been hanging around awhile, how it frees you up to get new yarn for a new project, and Robin did just that!

Margaretta knit this “Haruni” shawl with Shibui Silk Cloud, a lace weight blend of mohair and silk. She reported that the pattern is very well-written, feedback to take seriously from this seasoned knitter. I love how this shawl looks in this rich shade of purple!

Esther brought in this exquisite sweater from an Isager pattern collection, “No. 11, No. 12, No. 13…” Knit in the lace weight Isager Spinni, this has been a long-term project, and it’s one that I think she should be incredibly proud of.

A hearty thanks to all the fiber artists who start their projects here and share their work with us! We love to see our yarns grow up into finished garments, and are so inspired by the work you do. See you at the shop!

Show and tell, and lots of it.

Posted by Julia on August 28, 2015

One of our greatest joys as yarn-shopkeepers is seeing what knitters, crocheters, and weavers make with our yarns. I’m always collecting photos of finished projects as they come through the shop for show and tell, letting them build up until I have enough for good-sized blog post. There have been so many exciting new yarns at the shop this month that I’ve let the show and tell build up entirely too much. Settle in for a marathon show and tell post!

Debbie brought her “Technicolor Cowl” in recently to show us how it came out. While the pattern calls for eight mini-skeins of Dream in Color Classy in eight different shades, she used just three shades, for a more intentional yet no less vibrant color combination.

Here’s another finished product in Dream in Color yarn: Paula’s “In Threes,” knit in the decadent Classy with Cashmere.

Paula came in with a bundle of show and tell, in fact. She knit this “Winter Woods Hat” from the 2014 issue of Interweave Knits Gifts using Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light. The combination of stripes, colorwork, and a little bit of lace intrigued her, and she executed all three perfectly.

Paula’s “Cassandre Cowl” is particularly beautiful, with its grand colorwork motifs and delicate picot edging. The pattern is from Knitscene Accessories, 2014, and the yarn is the always delightful Swans Island Natural Colors Merino Fingering.

Debra has been a busy knitter lately; she too came in with a bag full of finished projects to share. Above is her “Horse Beanie,” knit in Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift.

Debra’s biggest knitting accomplishment of late has been this “Shetland Knee Rug and Throw,” from Martin Storey’s Scottish Knits, knit in the incomparable Fibre Company Acadia. On a real colorwork kick, she used the leftovers to design and knit this hat, incorporating a found chart of birds on a wire.

Since purchasing a Schacht Cricket Loom, Sue’s show and tell has switched from knitting to weaving.

She wove this scarf with a variety of plant fiber yarns, some solid, like Habu Cotton Nerimaki Slub, and some variegated, like Linen Concerto.

Sue has been particularly keen on weaving with variegated yarns, marveling, as I often do, at how differently those yarns behave in woven fabric than in knitted fabric.

She came in with her loom to show us her latest project, made with the leftover yarn from a shawl she knit, studded with random stripes of Isager Alpaca 1 in a contrasting color. We laid the knit shawl next to the woven fabric on the loom and studied the differences, which colors stand out, how they pool and pattern.

Kathryn dreamed up and knit this sweet polar bear sweater for her soon-to-be son using Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift.

I’m so impressed by this little sweater, from the classic color combination to her expertly self-designed colorwork charts to the perfect buttons. Bravo, Kathryn!

Handwoven.

Posted by Julia on July 30, 2015

Another new magazine has landed at the shop! Here’s a look inside the latest issue of Handwoven.

The September/October 2015 issue of Handwoven is dedicated to home decor, and features projects for a variety of looms.

Look to this issue for all manner of woven textiles for the home: towels and rugs, throws and pillows, tablecloths and more.

Come by the shop to peruse the latest magazines and books for weavers, knitters, crocheters, and other fiber artists. See you there!

New books for all.

Posted by Julia on July 15, 2015

We’re halfway through our Annual Inventory Sale, and folks have been taking advantage of our 15% discount in many different ways. Some are stocking up on their favorite needles, others are snapping up Cricket Looms (which are now temporarily out of stock!), and still more are planning ahead for holiday gift-making, while there’s still plenty of time to start and complete those gifts. Here’s another idea: treat yourself to a few new books this month, for a book is another kind of indulgence, one that can instruct and inspire.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve received new publications for all kinds of crafts. For weavers, 100 Pin Loom Squares shows the many possibilities of Schacht’s Zoom Loom.

For crocheters, we have two new titles. Colorful Crochet Lace is exactly what it sounds like: a collection of brightly colored crocheted garments and accessories in openwork patterns.

Honk! Beep! Vroom! is a book of crocheted toy vehicles with wheels that actually turn.

Knitters, meanwhile, should peruse Sheryl Thies’ Slip-Stitch Knits, and Amy Herzog’s newest book, Knit Wear Love.

Knit Wear Love is a collection of basic sweater shapes in a range of gauges, with lots of useful tips about modifying those basic shapes to make unique sweaters that suit your personal style.

Come by the shop to check out the latest publications, and do so during July to shop our entire inventory at 15% off!

Just a reminder–all sales are final on discounted items; there can be no exchanges, returns, or special orders. Thanks!

Learn to weave!

Posted by Julia on June 9, 2015

Since we first became a Schacht dealer back in November, we’ve connected with lots of lovely weavers and watched as many of our knitters and crocheters became weavers, as well. We’ve brought in UKI Supreme cotton weaving yarns in three weights, started carrying Handwoven magazine, reordered Schacht Cricket Looms again and again, and placed special orders for weavers seeking specific tools and yarns.

One request we haven’t been able to fill is for a rigid heddle weaving class, as our space is small and we’re brand new to this vast craft. To that end, we are so delighted to announce that the Triangle Weavers Guild is now offering classes on rigid heddle weaving at their new Triangle Fiber Arts Center in Durham!

Leslie Fesperman will be teaching two sessions of a Beginning Weaving class, designed to guide brand new weavers through their first project and assist them in planning their second.

Summer class: July 18th and August 1st, 2015, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Fall class: September 12th and 26th, 2015, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

For more information and to register for these classes, contact the Triangle Weavers Guild by emailing triangleweavers@gmail.com , or pick up a flier here at the shop. We just got a fresh new shipment of Cricket Looms and an exciting new book, Simple Woven Garments.

Come by and see us for weaving materials, and let the Triangle Weavers Guild help you learn to weave!

Handwoven.

Posted by Julia on May 25, 2015

The May/June 2015 issue of Handwoven has arrived!

This issue is dedicated to texture in weaving, with articles and projects focused on techniques and materials that create interesting textures in woven fabric.

One such project is Judy Pagels’ “Classic Capelet,” which can be woven on a Schacht Cricket Loom, and calls for one of our favorite yarns, Isager Alpaca 2.

Some projects require large floor looms, but others call for simpler looms, which can be constructed from hula hoops or cardboard. The range of projects reflects the many possibilities that this new-to-us craft offers, and we’re excited to see more weavers and their projects coming to the shop!

Weavers and weavers-to-be, come by to pick up a copy of Handwoven and check out our selection of weaving yarns, books, and small looms!

Hello, Handwoven.

Posted by Julia on April 9, 2015

We’re delighted to announce that we now carry Handwoven Magazine!

Handwoven is an Interweave publication dedicated to handweaving in its many forms, and on many kinds of looms. Inside you’ll find articles on particular techniques and weaving traditions from around the world, along with projects that put those techniques and traditions to work.

I was pleased to see that the cover project uses UKI Supreme 8/2 unmercerized cotton yarn, which we’ll happily special order in whatever colors you like; come by to see the color card! We keep a selection of UKI Supreme mercerized cotton mini-cones in stock in 10/2, 5/2, and 3/2 weights.

Weavers and weavers-to-be, check out Handwoven Magazine next time you’re here at the shop! We hope you find inspiration here.